MALDIVES

The people of the Maldives descend from four ethnic groups Sinhalese, Dravidian, Arab, and African. The main language spoken is Maldivian Divehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic).

POPULATION GRAPH

Population:
369,031 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.9% (male 81,383; female 76,984)
15-64 years: 54% (male 101,699; female 97,518)
65 years and over: 3.1% (male 5,619; female 5,828) (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.732% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:
34.2 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:
6.88 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:
0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.057 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.043 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.964 male(s)/female
total population: 1.046 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
53.25 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 64.76 years
female: 66.19 years (2007 est.)
male: 63.41 years
Total fertility rate:
4.78 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
0.01% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
less than 100 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
NA
Nationality:
noun: Maldivian(s)
adjective: Maldivian
Ethnic groups:
South Indians, Sinhalese, Arabs
Religions:
Sunni Muslim
Languages:
Maldivian Dhivehi (dialect of Sinhala, script derived from Arabic), English spoken by most government officials
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 96.3%
male: 96.2%
female: 96.4% (2005 est.)